Machine for mounting and demounting mandrel-held flexible tubes



July 29, 1952 E. N. BRODEN 2,504,658

MACHINE FOR MOUNTING AND DEMOUNTING MANDRELHELD FLEXIBLE TUBES Filed Dec. 1, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N V EN TOR. BY [aw/v A! flpoai/v E. N. BRODEN 0 58 MACHINE FOR MOUNTING AND DEMOUNTING MANDREL-HELD FLEXIBLE TUBES July 29, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec.

INVENTOR. fan w A. fiwoz/v BY 6 E. N. BRODEN July 29, 1952 MACHINE FOR MOUNTING AND DEMOUNTiNG MANDREL-HELD FLEXIBLE TUBES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 1, 1950 INVENTOR. [ow/m A! 5200:

,4 77'0P/V5Y5' Patented July 29, 1952 MACHINE FOR MOUNTING AND DEMOUNT- ING MANDREL-HELD FLEXIBLE TUBES Edwin N. Broden, Assonet, Mass., assignor to The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, Akron,

Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application December 1, 1950, Serial No. 198,667

21 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for mounting and demounting sections of tubing of flexible material, such as rubber, onto and from mandrels. Such tubes have been manually placed on cylindrical mandrels for vulcanization, and the usual procedure has been to strip the tubes by hand from the mandrels after vulcanization.

According to the present invention, in its best known and preferred form, the mandrels, as they are removed from cured tubes, are, in the same movement, caused to pass into uncured tubes which have been opened to receive the mandrels.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to facilitate the mounting and stripping of mandrelheld tubes. Further objects are to render such a process fully automatic, with a consequent speeding up of production and reduced unit cost of handling. Another object of the invention is to provide a novel indexing mechanism for simultaneously handling the transfer of articles in the various stages of the said automatic process.

The foregoing and other objects which will be apparent to those skilled in the art are accomplished by this invention, one preferred form of which is described in the following specification and illustrated in the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the machine,

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig 1,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of Fig. 4', with the parts in a differently adjusted position,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view in partial section of the pilot in its mounting and a cooperating mandrel," i

Fig. '7 is'an enlarged view, in axial section of a mandrel in its guide tube, and

Fig. 8 is a schematic View illustrating the automatic controls of the machine.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, there is shown a horizontal table in of channel section supported on a plurality of'legs II. An air cylinder I2 is supported at one end of the table on a pair of brackets M, l6. Piston rod ll of the air cylinder has a headed end ill, with a frusto-conical end 19, and the piston rod has a longitudinal, axial bore 20 extending throughout for a purpose to be explained hereinafter. The piston in cylinder I2 is indicated by the numeral 2|.

' To the right of cylinder I2 there is located an,

indexing wheel 22, star-shaped in end view (Fig. 3), and having a shaft 23 journaled in bearing blocks 24 on the tops of upright rods 26. The latter are threaded on their lower ends in internally threaded sleeves 21 supported on straps 28 beneath table l0, welded to the edges of the table channel. Suitable openings are provided in the table and in straps 28 for passage of rods 26, and rotation of sleeves 27 effects raising or lowering of shaft 23. Thus, adjustment may be made so that the axis of a cylindrical object, such as a mandrel 3|, carried in the pockets between the star points of wheel 22, can be aligned with the axis of piston rod i1 when a mandrel is located in the pocket in the star wheel when the pocket is at the top of the wheel. This enables the machine to operate upon mandrels of different diameters. Sleeves 21 carry sprockets engaged by an endless chain 39, by means of which the sleeves are rotated in unison by any desired means to effect the vertical adjustment of the star wheel.

An inclined ramp, indicated generally by the numeral 29, is attached to the table through 'a bracket 35 and serves as a gravity feed for mandrels 3| in their advance to indexing wheel 22. When the mandrels are received on the ramp, they carry tubes 32' which encase the mandrel except at the ends which are exposed, as shown in Fig. 2. An inclined ramp 33, attached by a bracket 33' to the opposite side of the table from ramp 29, delivers tubes 32 to a suitable receiver 34, after the mandrels have been removed from the tubes.

The star wheel is driven intermittently by an air cylinder 36 acting through an indexing ratchet Wheel 31. Air cylinder 36 is pivoted at 38 between a pair of arms 39 secured to one side of the table and the piston rod has a clevis 4|, pivoted to a link 42, the other end of which is mounted for swinging motion on the shaft 43 of ratchet'wheel 31, said shaft being supported between brackets 64, which are secured to one side of the table. Pivotally mounted on link 42, adjacent clevis 4| is a spring-pressed pawl 42 adapted to engage recesses 45 in wheel 31 to rotate the latter step-v wise for indexing. As will be explained, the indexing drive from cylinder 36 is also communicated to a double belt 4! and to a feed drum 48, which delivers uncured tubes into position for receiving the mandrels. j

Thedrive from ratchet wheel 31 to star; wheel 22 is communicated through a gear49, keyed to the shaft 43, meshing with a gear 5! rotatable on a shaft 52 carried by a pair of arms 53, which are pivoted on shaft 43, so that the center of gear 5| can be shifted circumferentially about shaft 43. Shaft 52 also carries a, sprocket 54, driving a chain 56 which, in turn, drives a sprocket 51, keyed to shaft 23 of the star wheel. This general arrangement of the drive gives a knee action which permits compensation for changes in the vertical adjustment of the star wheel.

The operations performed at the star wheel station comprise the removal of the mandrel from the cured tube and removal of the curedtube after emergence of the mandrel therefrom. As will be seen in Fig. 3, three upper spaces in the star wheel are occupied simultaneously. In space a, a tube-bearing mandrel has been received from the ramp 29 and is in readiness for lifting to the stripping position; in space b the mandrel is positioned for removal from the tube by head |8 of the piston rod, and in space 0 an empty, cured tube is ready for delivery to the ramp 33.

As-the mandrel is moved by the action of the piston I! to the right, it passes through a bore 58 (Fig. 7) in a supporting upright 59, secured on table l0. In order to accommodate mandrels of different diameter, bore 58 is located in a removable sleeve 66, received in a bore 61 in upright 59, and secured with a set screw 68. In this manner the sleeve 66 may be replaced by a similar sleeve having the central bore to fit snugly about the particular size of mandrels which are being stripped. Rubber tube 32 moves with its mandrel until the right edge of the tube contacts the abutment formed by the bottom 6| of a counterbore of bore 58, which arrests motion of the rubber tube and thus provides a stripping action.

In order to effect the stripping of a tube from its mandrel, it is necessary to expand the tube and this is done by injecting air under pressure between the leading edge of the tube and its mandrel. The stripping is therefore assisted by air under pressure, communicated from the pressure side of cylinder l2, through a line 60 leading from the rear side of piston 2|, and through a pair of conduits 62 branching from line 60 and leading to passages 63 in sleeve 66, leading to a second counterbore 64 of bore 58. The line 60 is connected to the interior of cylinde'r- |2- through a line I39, which also communicates with a two-way valve |4|.

A second upright 69, attached to table |0, having a bore co-axial with that of upright 59, is spaced from the latter and-the space between the two uprights constitutes a station wherein uncured tubes 10 receive the mandrels as they are ejected from the cured tubes. At this station, feeding wheel 48 is located, with a shaft 1| journale'd in brackets l2 secured to the table. Wheel 48 (Fig. 4) comprises a pair of end discs 13 having peripheral slots 14, inclined to radial directions on the disc, in such manner that the slots willdrop their contents at'about the nine oc'lock position. The slots are lined throughout the length of the drum, by U-shaped pockets of'sheet metal Hiextendin'g from 'one disc to the other and secured in slots 14. Other supporting discs. intermediate discs 13, maybe employed, if desired. The pockets are adapted to receive uncured tubes, as collapsed into a fiat condition.

As a flat tube falls from the'feed wheel 48, it passes into a receiver, shown generally at I1, which holds the tube temporarily in position to receive a pilot 18, of somewhat smaller outer diameter than the mandrel 3|, which pilot, in a sliding movement to the left, opens a tube l0 held in the receiver, so that a mandrel 3| may' pass into the uncured tube.

Receiver 11, shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 5, but omitted in Fig. 1, comprises a split pocket composed of sheet members 8|, 82, having brackets 83, 84 by means of which they are pivoted on respective shafts 86, 01. The latter are supported, at their left ends on respective brackets 88, 89, on upright 59, and at their right ends on brackets 9|, 92 on upright 69. Sheet members 8|, 82, defining the receiving pocket are in the form of a U, split at the bight, and have upper, bent portions 93, 94 directed to receive a flat tube from that pocket of wheel 48 which is in delivering position. Leaf springs 91, carried on the supporting brackets of the pocket system H and engaging the separable pocket sections 8|, 82, serve to keep the split pocket closed when empty or when only the weight of the uncured tube is being borne in the pocket, but which yield under the combined weightv of a mandrel and a tube, so that the pocket opens and the covered mandrel falls onto the conveyers 41. The latter-are suitably spaced apart so that no uncured rubber, but only the ends of the mandrel bear upon them. The conveyers may be of rubber and formed on their outer surfaces with spaced lugs to receive the mandrels. The conveyers pass over pulleys 98 journal'ed on shaft 43 and on a shaft 99, the latter journaled in brackets |00 carried transversely of the table It. Shelves |0| on brackets |00 give support to the upper span of the chain or belt. Also keyed to the shaft 43 is a sprocket |02 which communicates rotation to the feed drum 48 by means of a chain I03 and sprocket I04 fixed to shaft 1|. By these connections, the feed wheels 22 and 48 and the conveyor chains 41 are indexed simultaneously with each impulse from air cylinder 36. Other movements of the system are co-ordinated through limit switches, as will be explained.

The pilot I8 is located on the opposite side of the machine from the piston |8 and the piston and the pilot are in alignment with each other and with the mandrelwhich is in the pocket b of the star wheel 22. Y

The slide bearing for pilot 18- (Fig. 6) is contained in a long sleeve I06 received in a bore M1 in upright 69, which is axially aligned with piston rod l1 and bore 61, sleeve I06 being fixed in place by thumb screws I08 or the like. Duringthe operation, mandrels 3 I pass partly within sleeve I06 and, as in the case of sleeve. 66, sleeve I06 is replaceableto take careof mandrels of different diameters.

Secured intheleft end of tube I06 are a pair of collars I09, defining internalannular ribs and spaced apart to accommodate a rubber ring having a smaller internal diameter than that of the said ribs. In particular, the internal diameter of the rubber ring is about the same as the outer diameter of the pilot I8, and the inner diameter of ribs I09 is such as to receive the mandrel- 3| in a sliding fit. A pair of axially spaced, bearing sleevesl l2, H3, in tube I06, are sized .to receive pilot 18 in a sliding fit.

.Mandrels 3| are of tubular form in order to communicate air from piston rod l1 and the mandrels have tapered edges 6 to facilitate entry into the guide bores. Pilot 18 has a tapered nose 8 and. a short, axial bore H9 at its left end, communicating with a diametral bore I20.

Pilot I8 is moved to the left, to open the uncured tube in pocket 11, by means of an air cylinder 2 secured to the underside of table |0.' The piston rod I22 ofthe air cylinder carries an upright arm I23 which'passes-through a long slot I24 in the table top andhas, at its upper end, a fork I26 which engages behind thefhead I21 of a projection on the outer end of the pilot. a The air cylinder is single acting, with the pressure arrangedto move the fork'to the left, and the pilot and the piston rod I22 are pushed to the right by a mandrel as'it penetrates one of the uncured tubes. In this latter movement, it is necessary for the mandrel end to move into sleeve I06 so that the right end of the uncured tube will be spaced inwardly from the end .of the mandrel. Thereforepmeans are provided for ejecting the mandrel from its position of partial entry into tube I66 so that it may fall onto'the conveyor'belts 41. This return means comprises a pairof rods I29 onoppositesidesxof the table, at the right end thereof, each mounted for sliding motion in boresin a pair of uprights I29, I3I

on the table. Each rod carries a stop. collar I32 formingan abutment for a coil spring I33 surrounding the rod and located between collar I32 and upright I3I. The outer ends of the rods are threaded into a cross bar I34 and are provided with lock nuts'I36 outwardly of the cross bar. The latter is positioned to be contacted by the outer end of the pilot 18 when a mandrel end enters sleeve I 96 and, duringthis phase, rods I28 slide through bearings I29, I3I, with stops I32 compressing springs I33. Upon return stroke of piston rod I1 to the left, springs I33, acting on pilot 18, through rods I28 and cross bar I34 move the mandrel to the leftso that it follows the returning pistonrod head I9 until the mandrel is clear of tube I66.

A pair of collar stops I31 on rods I28 limit leftward motion of the rods, and motion of the pilot ceases after the mandrel hasbeen moved a sufficient amount to clear the tube I06. Thereafter, as piston rod head I9 continues its leftward, return motion, the loaded mandrel, which is now released from any supporting means, opens up the receiver 11 and drops to conveyor belts 41. I

The tube 32, which has been stripped from the mandrel, remains in surroundingv relation to piston rod I1 until the latter has retracted. In this movement, the tube will dwell on the piston rod and will move to the left until it abuts flanges 22 on the left hand end of each pocketin the star wheel, which will arrest the return move ment of the tube-until the piston passes beyond the tube, whereupon the tube is freed from the mandrel and drops onto the delivery chute when ,the star wheel is advanced to its next station.

The continuous, automatic operation is carried out by means of switches and valves, by an arrangement shown schematically in Fig. 8, in which the schematized elements from the main figures are given likereference numerals, qualified by prime marks.

At the phaseof operation shown in Fig. 8, the piston rod ofindexing cylinder 36 isinposition to deliver an indexing stroke, the piston of pilotactuating cylinder I2 I is, in its outward position, in readiness to'move the pilot (not shown) leftward, and piston rod I1 of the mandrel-moving cylinder I2 is moving leftward,'as indicated by the arrow, and is approaching the'end of this returnstroke. I

Cylinder I2 is double-acting through a pair of conduits I38, I39','leading to a f our-way valve I4 I with a slider I42 whichis controlled by a-pair of solenoids I43, I44. Energization of these solenoids is controlled by a pair of switches I46; I41",

trolled by a switch I63 cylinder 36' actuable by a dog I48 on the piston rod of cylinder I2 I. All solenoids are energized from a voltagescurce I49-having main lines I5I, I52.. Switch I46 is in a lead I53 from line I5I to solenoid I44, and the latter is connected to line I52 through a lead I54. In like manner, switch I41 is connected to lead I53 and to solenoid I43, through a lead- I56, and solenoid'I43 is connected to line I52 through a lead I51.

It will be seen that when the piston rod of cylinder I2 I is at the outward limit of'its stroke, solenoid I43is energized to move slider I42 to the right, and thus air pressure from an air .lineI58 is applied on the right side of thepl ston 2I of cylinder I2, to move it leftward. (No main line for the air pressure is shown, but pressure input, in the case of each valve, is indicated by an ar-' row.) Conversely, when the piston of cylinder III 'is" in its retracted position, switch I46 is actuated by dog I48 to'energize solenoid I44, which moves slider I42 to the left, placing pressure on the left side of the piston of cylinder I2, to move a mandrel to the right. Y

The indexing cylinder 36 is controlled by a four-way valve I59, having a slider I6I', a pressure-input conduit I66, and a pair of conduits I65, I15 leading to opposite sides of the piston. The valve slider I6I is actuated in one direction (downward in Fig. 8) to move the piston in an indexing operation, through a solenoid I62, conwhich is actuated by a dog I64 on piston rod I1, when the latter is'in retracted position. Solenoid I62 is connected to line I5I through a lead I66, and switch I63 is-in a lead I61 from solenoid I62 to line I525 The piston of indexing cylinder 36 is returned by a solenoid I68, which is connected to lead I53 by a lead I69, and to line I52 by a lead I10, so that solenoid I68 is energized simultaneously with solenoid I44,by switch I46, to put the pressure through conduit I65 and return the indexing piston as the piston rod I1 starts moving-to the right to strip a mandrel from its tube.

Movement of pilot-actuating cylinder I2I' is controlled by a switchI1I which is closed by a Sequence of operation of switches and valves As piston rod I1 to the left, switch gizing solenoid completes its return stroke, IE3 is closed by dog I64, ener- I62 and moving the piston of right, to strip a mandrel from a cured tube and to insertthe mandrel in an uncured tube, while outward to index the various mechait urges-thepilot to the right, )OlltfOf the uncured tube. At the start of rightward movemen f piston rod l1f,.'so.len'oid .l58.-whichihas also been energized by switch I46, moves slider Iii of valve 159 to return the indexing piston of cylinder "36'. 1

As dog 1'48 "moves vto. the, right, switch 146 opens'to de-energiz'e solenoid 1'44 in-preparation for subsequent action by :solenoid I43, and to de-Jenergize. solenoid l 68 in preparation for action bysolenoidlfl. i r V As the pilot reaches its extreme rightward osition, .dog I48 closes switch I41! energizing solenoid land returning Tpiston 4] to theleft. This completes the cycle.

iS'urmnar u of operation With the parts irrthepositions shown in-Figs. 1 is on ro tc e 9! as Ju t rea e th outward limitpi its stroke to index-the various stations. A stripped, cured tube 32 has :been moved to position 9 of the star wheel 22 and is about to fall onto delivery ramp 33. A mandrel bearing a cured tubehas been brought to position b in readiness forstripping by piston rod head l8, the conveyer-belts 41 have moved the distance of alink length advancing a tube covered mandrel and movinganempty link into position under the receivingpocket i7 adjacent the feed wheel 48.

Withclevis M in the position shown, switch HI has been actuated, cylinder I is energized, and pilot-l8 has moved to the left into the uncured tube 10 which is resting in the receiver 11. In movingto the left, thepilot has swung pocket wall sectionstl, 82 on their pivotsto openposition, as shown in Fig. 4.

When the pilot has passed through tube 10 until its pointed end protrudes beyond the leftward-end of the tube, dog- I48 on the pilot-actuating cylinder trips switch I45, which reverses valve l59,ret u rning pawl for the next indexing operation, and switch I46 also actuates :valve 'i il', causing piston rod head I8 to'move to the right; I-lead l8 contacts mandrel 3| in the star .wheel and moves it to the right, .withjtapered end Hgofhead l8 snugly engaged in the open end of the mandrel, to communicate air from behind piston 2| through the openingpf the mandreland to bores [19, I20 ofthe-pilot, which serves to expand the uncured'tube in front of lo 'the advanced :man'drel to facilitate ,passage of the mandrel through the uncuredtube.

,The' i right end or, the mandrel passes into bore-B ofupright, 59 until the end of curedtube 32 contacts the bottom! of the counterbore of bore 58, which holds the tube but permits the' mandrel to pass on through the here. This stripping operation is assisted byair :from the pressurized left end of cylinder 12,..pa'ssing through 'line (60 into lines '62 and leading to counterbore "6 4 through passages 'B3.- The mandrl passes on until its rounded mountd l'S engages the tapered end ll 8 of the pilot and pushes the'laterto the right, the mandrel passinginto and through the uncured tube while ejecting the: pilot therefrom. 'I he .rnandrel, which is; now supported by the piston head 18 d.- i tni e u hi the i t ot right until the end of the mandrel has -entered sleeve {06, passing in a tight fltthrough rubber ring Hi. The tube lo abuts against-t e'outer ring I09, so that 'asthe mandrel continues its movement t tu e 1 6, i ovesare at e y-t -tube I 0, andwhentheipilot-isstopped by spring 133, the jtube, is spaced :from theflend of, theinvention has invention'is not limited thereby since changes in the size, shape and arrangement, for'instance, "of the .variousparts-may be resorted to without the 'mandrels arenotatany-time idle; as soon =as1the tubes are stripped'fromtheir mandrels, new tubes arelplaced thereon-and the mandrels may be immediately transferred 'to the vulcaniz'ers. All .that-it'is'necessary to do to get maximum production from the mandrels is to feed .a :continuous supply of covered'mandrels to the ramp =29 .and'tofeed atsupply of vulcanized tubes to the pockets of the feed wheel 48. The :inje'ction=of air-'o'r any other expanding medium-into the interior for the vulcanized and unvulcanized tubes facilitates thexstripping of the vulcanized tubes and the placement of the unvulcanized tubes 'on the mandrels' With a minimumamount or supervision on the part of the operator, the

operations "are entirely automatic.

The description of themachine shown in the drawingshas been 'given'in great detail so that the-construction and mode of operation of the preferred embodiment of the invention'may be understood, but the details need not be followed in every adaptation of the invention. While the invention is particularly designed for the handling of mandrels 'in the :production of rubber tubing, it may be employed ior analogous purposes and is not necessarily confined to the particular processes set forth.

-While the stripping and subsequent:mandrel inserting operations are preferably carried on conjointly, it is possible to utilize the invention for either operation without the other. Howeven-the' combination of the two-operations in one machine makes it possible to conserve While-a certain preferred embodiment of-the been shown and described, the

departingfrom the spirit; or scope of the appended claims.

Whatisjclaimedis: I

'1. A machine for stripping vulcanized "tubes from "mandrels "and for inserting the mandrels into unvul'canized tubes, said machine comprising a support for a .mandrel having a vulcanized tube thereon, 'a second support for holding an .unvnlcanized tube'in alignment with the mandrel, means ior'moving the mandrel axially, an abutment in the path of the vulcanized tubeas itis moved with the mandrel to strip the said vulcanized tube from 'the'mandrel during movement of the mandrel, a pilot in axial alignment with the. mandrel, and means to moveth'e pilot 1axially'throughisaid"second support to'a position with the. leading end of the pilot exposed, .said mandrel moving means causing the mandrl to contact the. pilot to force the'pilot'out of the unvulcanized tube, until the unvulcanized tube issupportedon the mandrel.

"2. A machine 'for stripping vulcanized tubes .ifrorn 'mandrels and for inserting the mandrels vinto lunvulcanized tubes, said machine comprising a support for a-mandrel having a vulcanized 9, tube thereon, a second support forholding an unvulcanized tube in alignment with the mandrel, means for moving the mandrel axially; an abutment in the path of the vulcanized tube as it is moved with the mandrel to strip the said vulcanized tube from the mandrel during movement of the mandrel, a pilot in axial alignment with the mandrel, means to move the pilot axially through said second support to a position with the leading end of the pilot exposed, said mandrel moving means causing the mandrel to contact the pilot to force the pilot-out of the unvulcanized tube, until the unvulcanized tube is supported on the mandrel, and means to release the mandrel after the unvulcanized tube is centered on the mandrel.

3. A machine for stripping vulcanized tubes from mandrels and for inserting the mandrels into unvulcanized tubes, said machine including a support tor a mandrel having a vulcanized tube thereon, a second support for holding an unvulcanized .tube in alignment with the mandrel, means for moving the mandrel axially, an abutment in the path of the vulcanized tube as it is moved with the mandrel, means to inject air between the tube and the mandrel while the man: drel is moving to strip the tube from the mandrel, and means movable through said second support to expand an unvulcanized tube so that the mandrel may enter the said unvulcanized tube during its axial movement.

4. A machine for stripping vulcanized tubes from mandrels and for inserting the mandrels into unvuloanized tubes, said machine including a support for a mandrel having a vulcanized tube thereon, a second support for holding an unvulcanized tube in alignment with the mandrel, means for moving the mandrel axially, an abutment in the path of the vulcanized tube as it is moved with the mandrel, means to inject air between the tube and the mandrel while the mandrel is moving to strip the tube from themandrel, a pilot, and means to move the pilot throughsaid second support and into contact with an end of the mandrel, said mandrel moving means causing the pilot to withdraw from the unvulcanized tube as the mandrel advances. I

5. A machine for stripping vulcanized tubes from mandrels and for inserting the mandrels into unvulcanized tubes, said machine including asupport for a mandrel having a vulcanized tube thereon, a second support for holding an unvulcanized tube in alignment with the mandrel, means for moving the mandrel axially, an abutment in the path of the vulcanized tube as it is moved with the mandrel, means to inject air between the tube and the mandrel while the mandrel is moving to strip the tube from the mandrel, a pilot, means to move the pilot through said second support and into contact with an end of the mandrel, said mandrel moving means causing the pilot to withdraw from the unvulcanized tube as the mandrel advances, and means to inject air into the unvulcanized tube during the movement of the mandrel.

6. A machine for transferring mandrels from one tube to another, comprising a reciprocating element for urging a mandrel axially, a pilot axially aligned with said element, means to move the pilot axially toward said element, means to support the mandrel in axial alignment with said element and said pilot, said pilot being movable by said element, acting through said mandrel, an abutment to contact the end of a tube on themandrel past which said mandrel is caused to move by said element, and means to inject air between the tube and the mandrel during movement Of the mandrel.

7. A machine for transferring mandrels from one tube to another, comprising a reciprocating element for urging a mandrel axially, a pilot axially aligned With said element, means to move the pilot axially toward said element, means to support the mandrel in axial alignment with said element and said pilot, said pilot being movable by said element, acting through said mandrel, and an abutment to contact the end of a tube on the mandrel past which said mandrelis'caused to move by said element.

8. A machine for transferring mandrels 'from one tube to another, comprising a reciprocating element for urging .a mandrel axially, a pilot axially aligned with said element, means to move the pilot'axiallyltoward said element, and means to support the'mandrel in axial alignment with said element and said pilot, said pilot being movable by said element, acting through 'said mandrel.

9. A machine fortransferring mandrels from one tube to another comprising a reciprocating element for urging a mandrel axially, a first block having a bore axially aligned with said element and spaced from said element to permit the passage of a mandrel, a second block having abore axially aligned with said element and spaced from said first block, a pilot reciprocable'in' said second block, and means to move the pilot toward said first block. 1

10. A machine for inserting mandrels in unvul-'- canized tubes comprising a receiver to hold the tube, a piston to'move a mandrel axially'of the tube and to insert the mandrel in the tube, a pilot, and means to move the pilot 'throughthe unvulcanized tube prior to the entry of the man'- drel and to permit the pilot to retreat as the mandrel enters the tube. i

11. A machine for inserting mandrels in unvulcanized tubes comprising a receiver-to hold the tube, a piston to move a mandrel axially of the tube: and toinsert the mandrel in the tube, a pilot, means to move thepilot through the unvulcanized'tube prior to the entry of the mandrel and to permit the pilot to retreat as the man'- drel enters the tube, and means to inject air into the tube during the movement'of the mandrel through the tube.

12. A machine to strip a vulcanized tube from a mandrel and to thereafter insert the mandrel in an unvulcan'ized tube, said machine comprising a reciproca'ble piston to" engage one end of the mandrel and a pilot to engage the other end of the mandrel, a stripping device to engage an end of a vulcanized tube and arrest the movement of the tube while the mandrel is moving, a support for'holding an unvulcanized tube in-axial alignment with the mandrel, means to move the pilot into the unvulcanized tube while on the support and to permit'the pilot to Withdraw from the unvulcanized tube as the mandrel is moved past the stripping device and into the unvulcanized tube.

13. A machine to strip a vulcanized tube from a' mandrel and to thereafter insert the mandrel in an unvulcanized tube, said machine comprising a reciprocable piston to engage one end of the mandrel and a pilot to engage the other end of the mandrel, a strippin device to engage an end of a vulcanized tube and arrest the movement of the tube while the mandrel is moving, a support for holding an unvulcanized tube in axial alignment with the mandrel, means to move the pilotinto the unvul'canizeditube while on the support-and'to' permitithepilot to withdrawfrcm the unvulcanized tube as the. mandreliis moved past. the stripping: device: and: into. the. unvulcanizeditube. and means to inj ect air. into;the vulcanizediand unvulcauizedtubes during :the movementof the' mandrel;

141 In amachinefor the purpose set. forth, a support for: holding a. mandrel with a:.-vulcanized tube? thereon; a. second: support. forrholding. an unvulcanized tube. in axial alignment withv the mandrel, means to movethe: mandrel. endwise from theiflrsttnamed support and. to .insertit into the unvulcanized tube on the second support, and a; strippin'g. devicenperable: during movement of thezmandrelito remove; the vulcanized tub -from thea mandrel; said: device: being located: between thesaidtsupp orts:

155.. In: a. machine, for-the. purpose set; forth, a support: foithclding a: mandrelwitha: vulcanized tube: thereon, a. second: support; for: holding: an unvulcanized. tube in axialfa-lignment with the mandrel, means to: move the mandrel. endwise from thefirst named-support and to inserttit into the; unvulcanized tube; on the: second support, arstripping device operable; during: movement of themandrel' to remove; the vulcanized. tube from the mandrel; said device being located between thesaid: supports: andv a reciprocable; pilot to enter andopensaid unvulcanized tube before the entry; of the mandrel thereinandtohold-the'unvulcanized tube open as the mandrel-moves into the unvulcanized-tuba,

16; A machine for transferringmandrels from one tube tov another-rcomprisingsa ram-,;meansto reciprocate the ram; apilot axially aligned with and movable by saidram, ,means-tomove the pilot toward the. ram, means responsive to movement of the pilot by the ram to-return. the-,ramzwhen the pilot is at a predetermined position, and means responsiveto return of the ram to move thepilot toward theramz.

1-7. A machine, for transferrin mandrels from one-tube to another, comprising; a reciprocating ram, power means tomove-theram, a pilotaxially aligned with and: movable by: the ram, power means.- to move the. pilot toward the ram, switch means-responsive to movement of. the pilot toward the ram to actuate thepower means for the ram to move the ram toward the pilot, and switch means responsive: to movement; ofjthe pilot. by the ram to actuate the power means for the ram tomovev the ram away from the pilot.

1-8; A machine for transferring; mandrels from one tube to another, comprising a. reciprocating ram, power means to move the ram, a pilot axially aligned with and movable. by theram, power meansto move the pilot toward thev ram, switch means responsive to movement. of the pilottoward the ram to actuate the power means for the ram to. move the ram toward the pilot, switch means responsive to movement of the pilotby the ram to actuate the: power means for the ram to move theram away fromthe pilot, an indexing device for feeding articles into-the path of the ram and pilot, switch means responsive to movement of the ram away from the pilot. to

actuate. said'indexing device, and switch; means responsive. to; movement, of; said indexing device to move. said. pilottoward said ram.

19.,A machinefortransferring mandrels from one. tube. to another, comprising a reciprocating element. for. urging a mandrel. axially, a pilot axially aligned with said element, means to move thepilot axially toward said element, andmeans to supportthe mandrel in axial alignment with saidelement and said pilot, said pilot being movable by said element, actingthrough said mandreI said reciprocating element having an air passage leading to the end thereof which contactsthe mandrels, v whereby air under pressure maybecommunicated through hollow. mandrels to said pilots.

2.0. A machine for transferringmandrelsfrom one. tube. to another, comprising a reciprocating element. for urging a mandrel, axially, a pilot axiallyalignedwith said element, means to move the pilot axially toward/said element, andmeans to support the mandrelin axial alignmentwith said element .and saidpilot, saidpilot .being movable by said element, acting through said mandrel, said reciprocating element having an air passage leading to the end thereof which contacts the mandrels, and said pilot having an air passage leading from its end adjacent the said element through a side face of the pilot, whereby air, under pressure may be communicated from said element through. a hollow mandrel and throughv a portion. of said pilot.

21. Amachine for transferring mandrels from one tube to another, comprising a reciprocating elementfor urging a mandrel axially, a pilot axially aligned with said element; means tomove the pilot axially toward said element, meansto support the mandrelin axial. alignment withv said element and saidjpilot, said. pilot being movable by said element, acting through said mandrel. said'reciprocating element having an air passage leading to the end thereof which contacts the mandrels, said mandrels being hollow, and said pilot having an air passageleading from its end adjacent the said element through a. side face of the pilot, whereby air under pressure may be communicated from said element through a hollow mandrel and through, a portion of said pilot, and an air cylinder comprising a piston and piston rod, said piston constituting the reciproeating element, the air passage-in said element communicating with the pressure side of said piston.

EDWIN N. BRODEN;

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED- STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 201,096 Cowles Mar. 12, 1878 1,037,159 Lorenz. Aug. 2'7, 1912 1,535,368 MacAleese Apr. 28, 1925 2,234,044 Emmer Mar. 4, 1941 2,414,776 Stephenson et a1. Jan. 21, 1947 

